By Solomons H.B. No. 1291
75R5553 GWK-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the jurisdiction of municipal courts.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Article 4.14(c), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 (c) In this article, an offense which is punishable by "fine
1-7 only" is defined as an offense that is punishable by fine and such
1-8 sanctions as authorized by statute not consisting of confinement in
1-9 jail or imprisonment [that are rehabilitative or remedial in
1-10 nature].
1-11 SECTION 2. Section 29.003(c), Government Code, is amended to
1-12 read as follows:
1-13 (c) In this section, an offense which is punishable by "fine
1-14 only" is defined as an offense that is punishable by fine and such
1-15 sanctions as authorized by statute not consisting of confinement in
1-16 jail or imprisonment [that are rehabilitative or remedial in
1-17 nature].
1-18 SECTION 3. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies
1-19 only to jurisdiction for the trial of an offense committed on or
1-20 after the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this
1-21 section, an offense is committed before the effective date of this
1-22 Act if any element of the offense occurs before the effective date.
1-23 (b) Jurisdiction for the trial of an offense committed
1-24 before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in
2-1 effect when the offense was committed, and the former law is
2-2 continued in effect for that purpose.
2-3 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-4 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
2-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.